Chapter Thirty Eight

Batman walked out of the armory wearing reinforced, black armor that had hidden weaponry in the shoulders and arms, and retractable wings at the back. It was armor that he only wore to go into full-scale battle. It normally was too cumbersome for the rooftops of Gotham; in addition, he had his Batmobile and plane to get him around the city. But on Apokolips he was going to face opponents who had the potential to break him in two with their speed and strength and he needed all the help he could get.

He headed down to the hanger and there he found the team assembling with Green Lantern, Black Canary and the Flash who had come to see them off. Queen Hippolyta was wearing her Greek style armor and carried the long sword Diana had stolen off her. She wore the Gauntlet of Atlas on her right hand and Sandals of Hermes. Both Scott and Barda were already dressed for battle. Both Scott sat with J'onn in the cockpit looking over the controls and getting ready to align Mother Box with the ship's navigation.

His eyes narrowed as she saw Diana step out of the Invisible jet with Donna and Artemis. She was carrying the ax and shield but she also wore golden armor over her own uniform with an eagle helm and retractable wings. It seemed Hippolyta had brought it especially for her. He studied it for a moment wondering which God crafted it for them and what it could do. It did make Diana look regal and powerful. Athena's own shield and spear.

Donna was looking at her sister and mother wistfully as they stood before the Javelin. "I wish I was coming to help you."

Diana hugged her. "I know."

"You and Mother…please, be careful…,"she entreated. "I can't lose both of you…"

The Queen enfolded her daughter in her arms. "We will."

Artemis snorted, "Kick that Lashina's ass and get our lasso back, you hear me?"

Diana smiled reluctantly. "I hear you."

"Ah, here is Bruce now," said Hal. "Time for everyone to get on board. Enough time has been wasted and you still have to go to New Genesis."

Wally held his head. "Aw, man. I should be going on this mission. Why can't I go?"

Hal shook his head. "Some of us need to stay and protect the Earth. God knows what will happen if they fail and Darkseid decides to launch a counter attack."

Dinah went to Diana and hugged. "We'll keep in constant contact with the Javelin and J'onn. Be careful and bring Clark back to us."

Diana whispered, "We will do our best."

Artemis turned as she heard the mention of Batman. She colored a little as he came to stand along side Hippolyta and Diana. Hal, Donna, Dinah and Wally all wished him good luck.

He said stiffly. "It's got nothing to do with luck this time, I'm afraid."

Dinah waved his words aside and hugged him. "Nevertheless, you paranoid, stubborn mule, take care."

His lips pursed ruefully but he put his hand up when Wally tried to hug him. "I don't think so."

"Aw, you such a spoil sport, Bats. Get the pole out." And Wally hugged him anyway.

Hal grinned and clapped his shoulder. "Take care, Bruce."

Diana and Hippolyta began to mount the ramp. Batman nodded at his friends but before he turned to follow, his eyes lingered upon Artemis.

The others, sensing they were in the way, drew back to give them some space.

Batman began gruffly, "If I don't come back, Artemis, I made provision for our daughter. She will want for nothing. Please don't let your pride get in the way of her getting what she is entitled to. Alfred and Lucius Fox have been advised and…"

Artemis suddenly interrupted with fire in her eyes, "You are going to come back! I won't have you wiggling out of this because you did something stupid by letting them kill you! I won't be raising her by myself. You have to come back and get some gray hairs too, you hear me, Bruce Wayne? Don't you dare die out there, just to aggravate me!"

Bruce's lips suddenly turned up a little. He moved in closer. He touched her cheek. "Than don't you dare give birth to her without me."

Artemis' eyes closed as she felt him brush her lips with his own. She pulled him closer and kissed him hard. Batman kissed her back and then reluctantly dragged his lips from hers and walked briskly towards the ship. He did not look back. Artemis waddled back to the invisible jet. She had done all she could do and now she was tired and weary and just wanted to go home where she could actually give herself over to emotion without shaming herself before an audience. While she was not the type of woman to ever cry, she was pregnant and it was difficult to keep her emotions in check. She gritted her teeth and held her head high.

Wally goggled at them. "Well, I'll be. I think they like each other. I thought it was just about sex."

Hal folded his arms. "You might be right. Hmm, this calls for a new pot. I'll give them until Christmas to stop being stubborn and move in together."

"You want to bet on them? I'd say the tougher call would be Clark and Diana if they get back home in one piece. Artemis and Bruce are a sure call, with a baby on the way and if that kiss is anything to go by, I'd say way before Christmas. Blue and the Princess now…who knows what will happen there…?"

Dinah elbowed both of them. "Shush. No one is going to be betting on anyone. Look at Princess Donna." She gestured to them to see Donna watching the doors close behind Batman and her mother and sister. They could just about see them join J'onn, Scott and Barda as they all got settled and strapped in via cockpit window.

J'onn gave a single wave and soon the Javelin was lifting off and shooting out of the hanger with a loud roar.

Donna gave something that sounded like a throaty sob.

Wally's hand rested on her shoulder gently. "Hey, I have faith in them. They'll come back, you'll see."

Donna looked up at him with tear filled eyes. "They are the only blood relatives I have, you know? The Embassy will feel so empty without Diana and my mother is always around…"

Wally nodded sympathetically. To her surprise and Hal and Dinah, he dragged his hood back. He faced Donna with tussled, red hair and a softened expression. "Hey, you want to grab a cup of coffee in the commissary? I make a hell of a mochachino."

Donna blinked at him, a little startled to see him unmasked. While he was not as handsome as many of the older heroes or as well built, there was something sincere in his eyes and he was very cute in a boyish way.

She said softly, "I…that would be nice. Thanks, Flash."

Wally waved his hand. "Please, call me Wally. Come on, your Highness. This way. If you like I'll do us some burgers too. See, I need to eat. Not cause I'm an insensitive lout but gotta boost my energy levels. Got a fast metabolic rate, you see."

Donna said, "Please call me Donna, Wally, and I guess I could eat something."

Hal watched them walk towards the elevator with a raised brow. "Well, impressive. He's actually gone and not only talked to the girl, he's gotten a date. See, Dinah, told you the boy could do it."

Dinah wrinkled her nose. "Well, I guess, he seems genuine. But that's not a date."

Hal smiled. "No?"

"No. She thinks he's just being nice."

"Well, might be better this way. Less pressure and while he's being nice, she gets a glimpse into the real Flash. Hopefully he won't put his mouth in it as he might if it were a real date. Sometimes starting off as friends is not a bad thing."

Dinah smiled as they both began to slowly walk to the elevator. "That's true but I don't think you have you ever done that, Hal. You see a girl and instantly it's about sex."

Hal began defensively, "No fair! What about Carol?"

"You mean you did not want to get into Carol's panties the moment you saw her?"

"Hey, that's not…okay, that's true," he admitted with a wry grin. "But hell, when you got so many girls throwing themselves at you and the uniform is like a chick magnet. Even Carol wanted me though she pretended she didn't…It's hard to say no, you know?"

She said looking at him with a sudden sadness in her eyes as she stepped into the elevator. "Yes, I know that from Ollie."

His smile died down. He caught her arm. "Dinah, hey, I'm sorry. I think Ollie is a fool."

"Really? But you described yourself just like Ollie. You like women and can't commit to one. How different are you?"

The doors slid shut and they were moving up to the main observation deck.

"See, I never found anyone I wanted to be with long term. Carol was always a little demanding and she never could quite get what I had to do. We couldn't sustain it. It was the best thing we did breaking up. But you…Ollie said you were the best thing that ever happened to him and the fact you understood being a hero made it so much easier…"

"And he still was unfaithful to me," she shrugged. "So much for that theory."

He blurted, "Dinah, I'd die first before I hurt you. If you were mine, I'd consider myself a damn lucky guy."

She blushed but gave him a disbelieving look. "Such dramatics, Hal. Is that what you tell them before you bed them?"

He looked self conscious as he said matter of fact, "No….I…er…I've never had to lie to get anyone in bed."

They stared at each other. Dinah's heart began to beat faster. She could feel even behind his mask that he was staring at her in a way unlike he had ever done before.

She asked quietly, "So, what are you saying, Hal?"

The elevator stopped on the level with the lab and the doors opened and they saw the Atom with his arms full of files waiting. "Hey, guys, think you could give me a…?"

He put a hand on the elevator button and closed the doors on Ray's bemused face. The elevator continued up. He took in a deep breath. "Ollie is one of my best friends; I don't want to do anything to upset him."

Dinah took a step towards him. She cut him off with a poke to his chest. "Ollie is not my father and nothing would annoy me further if anyone feels they need permission from him regarding me! He lost any rights to having a say in my life the day he was unfaithful! Got that?"

Hal put his hand up. "Whoa, yeah! Got it!" He took in a deep breath and said, "Well, I guess, I'm wondering if you'd like to go grab some dinner with me?"

Dinah's eyes flickered with surprise and pleasure. "Dinner?"

Hal nodded and smiled. "Yeah. I know we will hang around waiting to hear about the mission but we don't have to starve or swallow commissary food while we do. I know a great sushi bar and they won't even blink if we walked in and have dinner in our uniform. Unless you don't want to…which I'm cool with by the way…I mean, I don't want you to think I…"

She interrupted, "Fine."

The doors opened on the upper deck and Doctor Light and Vixen were standing waiting to enter.

Hal mused, "Really?"

She nodded. "Yes."

The both smiled at the two women and stepped out and headed towards the teleporter.

A boomtube yawned open in the atmosphere above New Genesis and the Javelin appeared. The ship hovered for a moment until two small craft appeared and escorted it to the Celestial City.

Hippolyta looked out at the tall spires and domes, the snow capped mountains, lush green plains and blue lakes with admiration. "By the Gods, it is as beautiful as anything created by the Olympians. Have you seen this before, daughter?"

Diana glanced down as they approached the docking pad. "Yes, I came here on couple of reconnaissance missions during my time as a Fury. It's been a while though."

Batman turned to look at her. "So you know quite a bit about this place?"

She sighed. "We only got as far as the lower levels of Supertown and never close to the Celestial City. So you can stop looking at me like that."

Barda said, "It all looks peaceful now but on the other side of this system they are trying to keep Apokolips from breaching their moon bases. Skirmishes have been going on for years between the two kingdoms. There have been full on battles in the Taraton Sector."

"If they are busy fighting a war why would they even bother to help us?" asked Hippolyta.

Scott turned from the co-pilot's seat. "Because a Superman who does not hold back, leading the armies of Apokolips, can change the tide of any battle."

Highfather received the visitors in his audience-chamber. Sitting with him were Orion and Commander Gideon. His kindly face lit up when he saw Scott and Barda. He stood up in surprise.

"My son, what brings you to New Genesis? Barda, how are you my child? And who are these people with you?"

Scott and Barda embraced him and after the initial greeting, Scott said gravely, "Father, we need your help."

Highfather sat listening to the whole story. His face grew more and more troubled with every passing moment. His eyes occasionally glanced at Diana as if he could not believe this beautiful creature was the Opaque that led the Furies and captured his son. Orion for his part gave her glowering looks. He had not forgotten their encounter and it was clear he viewed her with skepticism.

He uttered, "I would do anything to help the man who risked his life for me but you are asking us to go into Apokolips with…with this…pretty faced turncoat? Why should we ever trust her? This could be a trap."

Diana colored. But she knew this was not the time to argue and she said humbly, "Orion, I'm sorry for my part in your kidnap and torment on Apokolips but I was brainwashed too. I can only hope you can forgive me. I would never do anything to cause pain to Barda or my mother. I am a good warrior and I swore that I would do everything in my power to bring Kal back, but if you feel that strongly about me, I will stay here while the team goes in."

Orion narrowed his eyes at her and said dryly, "How selfless."

Barda clicked her tongue impatiently. "We would be foolish leaving Diana behind, Orion. She is crucial to the success of this mission. If you can trust me, after I battled New Genesis for years as a Fury, then you need to put some trust in her. Diana and I are no different."

Scott said, "Brother, I believe in my wife and if she believes in Diana, then so do I." He looked at Highfather. "Father, what say you?"

Highfather leaned on his staff and closed his eyes. "If Darkseid controls the Kryptonian then this war is going to take a turn for the worst."

Hippolyta said gently, "My lord, time is slipping away. As one who knows the burden of sovereignty, I know that this does not only affect New Genesis. In the long run, it will spill to the rest of the cosmos and the Earth. We cannot allow this to happen."

Commander Gideon mused, "So you six intended to just go into Apokolips? You do not think that they would have boosted their security now that they have the Kryptonian?"

J'onn said, "This is where we hoped New Genesis could help."

Commander Gideon's brow rose. "Oh?"

Batman explained "We need a diversion. Something to distract them, keep them off our backs so the team can get into the Citadel and try to rescue our friend."

"A diversion?"

Barda said, "You can launch a counter attack on Armagetto. The Draconis Squadron perhaps?"

Gideon asked, "You want one of our best squadrons to come into Apokolips to create a diversion? Barda, as good as they are, I do not know how long they can outshoot and outrun the parademon patrols. It is almost suicidal."

"Listen me to me," said Scott. "Do you even know what a full grown Kryptonian is even capable of? When he is powered up to the maximum and has no conscience or restraints on what he can do? Countless worlds will die! We just need time…we don't know how much time…but whatever we can get…we will try to use it. If your forces become overwhelmed, then you pull out. Himon is still out there with the rebels. We can contact them and you can plan a joint offensive. His forces can occupy them on the ground, while you occupy them in the air."

Gideon looked at Highfather as if for approval.

Highfather stood up. He looked grim. "I made a treaty with Darkseid, going so far as sacrificing my own flesh and blood for peace. I would do it again if I had to." He looked at Scott with real remorse but his voice was firm. "I would give myself up if he required it of me for peace. There comes a time when you do your duty, for not only overlord or planet, but for the larger fate of the universe. Commander, you will call the squadron home and contact Himon. Now."

Gideon bowed. "As you wish, sire." He turned and left them.

Diana began gratefully, "Thank you, sire. You are doing the right thing."

Highfather gave her a grave look. "Do not disappoint us, child, by doing otherwise." He looked at Orion and touched his arm. "We do what we must to prevent Darkseid from controlling Kal-El of Krypton. Orion, my son, I ask you as a father, and as your sovereign, to help our allies. Remember Scott, Bara and the Kryptonian put themselves at risk to come and rescue you. I did not have to beg them. I only asked."

Orion replied gruffly, "I do this for you, Father. But when it is done, the debt is paid."

The Draconis squadron and the rebels were contacted. It would take some hours for the former to break from the main fleet and return to New Genesis and for them to work out the plan with Himon and the rebels. Everyone was well aware that with every passing hour Superman would become more and more vulnerable to being broken by Darkseid.

Diana stood on one of the balconies in the tall towers that looked down upon the Celestial City and the landscape beyond. She could not even appreciate its beauty. Her mind was on Clark and what they would be doing to him. She closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

"Daughter?" A gentle hand rested on her shoulder.

Diana turned. It was Hippolyta.

"It is time to go," she said.

Diana reached for her helm and axe that laid upon the balustrade. She took in a deep breath. Hippolyta asked, "Are you okay, child? You look pale."

She confessed, "Mother, I have gone into battle scores of times and I have never felt as frightened as I do now."

She touched her cheek. "You are frightened because you have something to lose which shows you have gotten to that place that makes the world worth living. It is not a shame to not want to die."

"I am not afraid of dying …I always knew it is a possibility in battle…I just don't know what we will face…in Kal."

"He is a strong man, Diana. A fighter. It has only been four days. They will need longer than that for him."

"I know but they will know that too and they have kryptonite. They will be ruthless. I can imagine the pain he will have to endure."

Hippolyta patted her back. "I know. We must pray that he is fighting their brain washing and torture."

Diana swallowed. "Will you do that with me?"

Hippolyta blinked. "What?"

"Pray for him?"

The Queen stared at her earnest expression and silently took Diana's hands in her own and they both bent their heads, closed their eyes and was silent for a minute.

Hippolyta raised her head and tilted her chin. "Now let us go, my daughter, and we will face this evil place together."

Darkseid entered the chamber that held the Krytponian.

Desaad turned in some surprise and bowed. "My lord, I did not expect you at this late hour."

Darkseid saw the shackled man lying on the table, his face was uncovered and his skin looked as if it was healing from numerous burns. His eyes were half open as if in between sleep and consciousness.

"You are working around the clock, I see?"

Desaad replied, "He heals quickly so he requires more work than others."

"How resistive is he?"

"With each passing hour we are pushing into his past, destroying it, building his new world, wiping out all hope. His faith in the Amazon would have been shattered with her betrayal, making him full of pain and anger. If he were any other, he would be dead by now with the intensity of the torture. His memories of her seem to be strong and he resists at times."

"Wake him."

Desaad blinked. "Now?"

"Yes. Now."

Desaad picked up a syringe and injected a substance into the side of his neck. It took a moment for Clark to give a shuddering gasp and his eyes fluttered open.

"Kryptonian."

Clark tried to focus. His mind seemed fuzzy and heavy. His hands clenched and unclenched and he began to mutter a mixture of Kryptonian, English and Apokoliptian.

He tried to pull on his bonds even as he looked at Darkseid.

Darkseid bent to look into his eyes. "Who are you?"

" Kal-El…of…Kr…Krypton…Nnnnrrrgaaahh…" He arched his back and tried to rise.

"Whom do you serve?"

"I...am…your…No…I…" Sweat beaded his brow as his mind battled the brainwashing. His mind searched for the last vestiges of an old life and he found it in the memory of olive flesh against his own, the fragrance of orchids, and sea blue eyes. He whispered, "Diana…"

Darkseid's eyes glowed and he stepped back looking none too pleased. "Where is the kryptonite?"

Desaad pointed to a small casket. "In there."

"Give it to me."

Desaad looked a little put out. "But, my lord, how will I be able to enhance his torture and speed up the process without it?"

Darkseid took the casket Desaad held out. "You have had it long enough. Physical pain alone is not going to turn him. This one is driven by conscience and sacrifice and sentimentality. Typical earth bound emotions. You must not only destroy his mind and his beliefs but this affection for the Amazon." He walked around the table, studying Clark. "That he cares so much is a testament to the power she has over him. But maybe her betrayal has not done enough. He needs a little extra reason to loathe her."

Kal-El leader of the Furies fought one of the Hunger Dogs rebels.

This enemy was not a Lowly but a New Genesian.

A powerful one. With flight, speed, strength and the ability to manipulate gravitational fields.

The fight was long and bloody, spanning across the whole city.

The rebel managed to hit him hard and he found himself falling helplessly into a fire pit.

Kal-El opened his eyes. He found himself lying in a small, dimly lit tent.

His eyes cleared and he jerked up right. He saw a feminine silhouette kneeling before a fire.

"You are awake." The female was in profile over a steaming pot. "Are you hungry?"

He blinked and looked at himself warily. He had been stripped of his helm and armor, and under-suit. He was naked from the waist up. His hand touched his chest.

She explained as she ladled something like soup into a bowl, "When you fell into one of the fire pits, it damaged your armor. It was charred and almost melted on you when we pulled you out of there."

"We?" His eyes suddenly narrowed as she came towards him. He could see she wore a gray tunic and trousers and her hair was braided.

"I am a Lowly. I work in the pits. I saw you fall and I thought you dead. But when the flame went down, I saw you stir. We, my colleagues and I, dragged you out. You are one of the Elite. I could tell from your armor and the fact that there was not a mark upon your skin when we pulled you out of the fire pit. You must be very powerful to survive the heat in that furnace."

She knelt and laid the bowl down before him. He saw her lower face was veiled. Was her face grotesque? His eyes narrowed and he let out an intake of breath as he used his superior vision to look at her face.

It was the most beautiful face he had ever seen. And he had seen many in his twenty six years of traversing the universe. Her hair was black as midnight and even as it was tied in a braid, loose tendrils gently curled and kissed her brow and cheek. Her skin had a golden glow in the lamplight. Her eyes were a jeweled blue and her lips were full and luscious. It begged to be kissed. His eyes pierced her clothing and he saw even beneath the loose garments a body that would be the envy of any female Fury. One that any of the Elite would kill to ravish.

He said dryly, "You are a Lowly? You expect me to believe that?"

She raised her eyes to him. "Why would you doubt me?"

"You belong in the bordellos or in the halls of the Citadel. Why would someone so comely even be wasted here?"

She bowed. "I am an Amazon. I was taken from the Earth as a child. Granny rejected me because I was created by the magic of the Olympian Gods. I am seen as an outcast here in this world. I was not good enough to be a Fury, nor did anyone want me in the brothels. So I was sent here. I've lived here for many years."

"Amazon? Magic?" His voice reeked with a kind of displeasure but his hand reached out and yanked her veil off. He said ironically "No one wanted you? I find that hard to believe."

She seemed to flinch at his movement. "I am a Lowly. It is my lot in life. I am not worth your time."

He drew her chin up and ran a thumb over her lips. "Let me decide what is worth my time. I have never had an Amazon before. Magic, you say? I am a little vulnerable to magic. I have never had a woman born of magic. I find it intriguing. I have grown bored of concubines of the brothel. What is your name?"

"Diana."

He said matter of fact, "You will come back with me to the Citadel, Diana."

She paled. "But...but I was expelled from there…My kind is not welcome…Granny…"

"You think I care? I am the Commander of the Elite. I am Darkseid's herald. I get whatever I want.

Desaad chortled. "It has begun."

Lashina raised his brows and looked at Superman's eyes twitch as he was being bombarded with new memories. "You are sure you can manipulate his mind to hate her?"

"Oh yes. At first he thinks she is just a beautiful outcast. And he has done exactly what we expected. His virility demanded he bed her. Now we ensure he thinks she has betrayed him even in this life."

Lashina folded her arms and walked to stand over his head. "Do not forget what Granny wants."

Desaad smiled sardonically. "Granny? You mean what you want."

She looked at Clark and looked at him with a kind of smugness. "When you are finished remember he is to waken in my bed."

Kal-El drained his goblet and watched the Amazon come out of the adjoining room. She wore a gauzy robe that left little to the imagination. Her hair was damp still from the bath she had just taken.

It had been a whole month and he had not yet tired of her. Like most Lowlies she was docile and did anything he asked. But it did not hide that she had a sharp mind and curiosity he actually found refreshing. It should have been pedestrian and unremarkable like all his other women but when he had her under him there was a passion between them he could not explain.

Even as he made love to her, he knew it was not good for his reputation. He was becoming attached to one female and that did not bode well for him or her. It meant the eyes of the Elite would be upon her. Granny mocked and ridiculed his choice of a creature of a myth and magic from an antiquated culture. Truth be told, he rather enjoyed seeing Granny's eyes flash in annoyance at the sight of Diana or Kalibak look longingly upon her.

He really should send her back to the pits.

But as he thrust into her, pinning her hands to the wall, he knew she would remain another night. Like he had known every night before that.

Magic.

He fell back upon the bed and looked at her as she picked up her robe and said something about wanting something from the antechamber.

He closed his eyes in contentment. He had a rigorous day, having encountered some stubborn Rigorillians in Sector 6752. He would sleep for now.

He did not even know when she had come back out of the room. He felt the bed dip and before he could open his eyes, he saw a long, green blade sink into his chest. Even as he grappled with her, he gasped in agony as he realized he had been attacked by her.

"New Genesian witch," his voice gritted and he tried to rise but his legs gave way and he fell to the floor. He could just about see her dressed once more in the old tunic and trousers he thought he had made her discard a month ago.

She was watching him with wary eyes and the last thing he saw was her going to the computerized system in his chamber that was connected to the main frame in the Citadel. She expertly hack into it and plugging in her own data storage device, she downloaded as much as she could on Apokolips' current military numbers and weaponry, strategy and the lay out of Amargetto, the Citadel, and the underground city of the old Gods.

He cursed as he laid in agony and watched her pull out a small Mother Box.

She vanished via a boomtube.

"If I ever see you again, you are dead, Amazon," he growled and blacked out.

Kal-El opened his eyes and let out a groan.

A silky voice said, "Ah, you're awake finally. Really, Kal-El, you should not drink that much. I know we had a great victory taking out the whole of the Sornaii but you and the Elite should really pace yourself when celebrating."

Kal-El looked up at the woman who stood at the end of his bed.

Lashina stood naked before him and then with a feline grace she crawled up the sheets to come and lie upon his bare chest. "Still even inebriated," she whispered and bent to kiss his mouth, "you performed very well once again."

Her lips captured his and he could feel her tongue slid past his lips. Her hand moved down his chest to go down to his groin.

A swift hand captured her wrist and he broke the kiss and pushed her off him with a scathing, "Nothing ever gets me drunk, Lashina. What did you put in my drink?"

She was shoved to the side and her eyes seemed to narrow for a moment at his reaction. Desaad did say she would have to be careful about how she reacted to him. This was his first full awakening and the memories they implanted in him would shape his personality and attitude. She could see he was not going to be docile or smitten by her charms. She found she liked that. As he sat up and pushed his hand through his hair, she lay on her side and cooed, "Now you are being a spoil sport, Kal-El. We all drank some of that fine Sornaii wine at dinner and then you and I came back here and rutted for a while. And now here you are, accusing me of drugging you instead of thanking me? I wonder why I even bother with you when I could have any male I want."

He smiled mockingly and rose. "Because you are a masochist, my dear. You always were. Now get your things and go. I have things to do. That is an order from your Commander."

She got up. She shrugged into the gown she wore last night and studied him as he walked to a sideboard and poured himself something to drink from a decanter. He was very virile and sexually attractive like this. As Superman he was a handsome man but a restrained one. She liked this better. She licked her lips at the sight of his well muscled shoulders, back and firm buttocks. He saw her in the mirror and he said dryly, "Maybe later. And you could bring that lovely new Carggite recruit you are training. I hear she can split into three. The greater the company the better the bedding, as they say in the brothels?"

Lashina scowled and walked out. "You are an arrogant whoreson."

He laughed and strolled into the bath chamber. He stepped into the shower and allowed the steaming jets to spray him.

Sornaii wine would be the first of its kind to ever affect him. He made a note to take it to the lab and see what was in it. He could barely recall being with Lashina and for someone who had an eidetic memory that bothered him. He never lost control. He closed his eyes and let the water just fall on his face and a sudden strange scent assailed his nostrils.

It made him open his eyes and frown. It was like nothing he smelled. Ever.

It was unique in a place that smelled of death and fire.

It was not Lashina. She smelled of musk and leather and metal.

He did not get long to ponder because the sound of a beeping from the bedchamber alerted him. He stepped out of the cubicle, grabbing a towel as he did, and walked to the monitors over the communications console. He pressed a panel and Darkseid appeared.

"Father," he bowed.

"Kal-El, there are explosions in the south eastern quarter of Armagetto and one of our guard posts are under attack by rebels. Boomtubes have also opened and a small fleet of New Genesian ships have breached our skies. We estimate there are about three hundred armed fighters."

His blue eyes flickered, "Hmm, they are being very bold this time to come into the city. I will go at once and quell this little incursion."

"No. Send out the parademons and female Furies to deal with this one. I want you here. With me. Wear your armor, Kal-El."

Kal-El bowed. "Yes, sire."

Kal-El went to a stand where his black spiked armor and helm sat. He donned his under suit and armor quickly, picked up his broad sword and helm and walked out of the room. As he did a shimmery figure rippled the air.

Boomtubes lit up the sky above Armagetto and fighter ships from New Genesis appeared and began to attack the city quarter simultaneously with the rebels on the ground. Orion, Diana, Bruce, Hippolta, J'onn, Scott and Barda ported in and took to the underground tunnels.

Hippolyta twisted her face at the smell as they traversed the tunnels. "Does it always stink here?"

"Yes, "replied Barda. "This place is death incarnate."

"Where do you think they have him?" asked Bruce.

Diana said, "It could be Desaad's torture chamber, Dr Bedlam's lab or with Darkseid himself. J'onn, can you home in on him at all?"

J'onn put his hand to his head. "No. I cannot sense him at all. His mind is either blocked or he is already under their control."

"Do you think they have broken him already?" Diana began worriedly. "Isn't it too soon for an adult Kryptonian?"

Orion said gruffly, "They will be extra brutal with him. Believe me."

"Can Mother Box sense anything?" she asked Scott who held the appliance in his hand and was communing with it.

"No. Something is blocking me. Another Mother Box maybe. I can transfer us to those locations to check for Superman though."

Diana said grimly, "It has only been four days…If Kal has been turned then it allows us a fighting chance to bring him back. His tainting would only have been via mind manipulation. That can be reversed. It takes real bloodletting and service to seal the covenant with Darkseid. Batman, you did bring the kryptonite ring?"

Bruce nodded. "I did. Though I'm not sure how much use it will be seeing they know of his weakness. I would think they would make sure he's prepared. It's hardly likely they would allow Darkseid's best weapon to be taken out so easily with a green rock."

"It is better than nothing," she answered.

"We need to split up, "said Barda briskly. "Mother Box will send us where we need to go. Who will go to Bedlam's lab?"

"Orion and I will go," said J'onn.

Scott nodded, "Barda, Bruce and I will go to Desaad's torture chamber."

Diana looked at her mother. "You and I will go to Granny's Orphanage. I want my lasso back."

Author's Note : Thanks for the reviews, everyone. I'd love to be able to update faster. But at times real life and other sm/ww duties does call too. I appreciate you patience and hope you can continue to hang in there with this me and this story.